Allied to the Alliance

He looked over his shoulder to the cockpit, taking a peek at the pilot and where they were. It'd be another 20 to 25 minutes before they would arrive on the scene, and with the fiasco in the Senate, battle lines and borders would be drawn quite soon.

"You'll have to ask that to someone there in command, I wouldn't know."

The remainder of the trip went smooth, no interferences from weather or the Republic, or even birds. The shuttle landed on the platform of what looked like a completely mechanical complex. It was massive, with high fences, and battle droids everywhere. Entire regiments were being moved from the production line to Multi Troop Transports, or MTT's for short. They could fold themselves up to about half a meter by half a meter, allowing for maximum storage in minimum space. Efficient and great for transporting large numbers of troops. Guard droids littered the compound, identified by their sand color with red markings on their chest and shoulders.

After exiting the shuttle, Cole gestured Tiara to follow him. He led her to what would be identified as the command complex, having massive dishes on top for communication and sending out the signal for the OOM Class Battle droids, the predecessor of the B1's. While B1's were independent, but had personality quirks or flaws, the OOM's were completely reliant on having an active signal from base. Without it, they would shut down. In the command center, they were greeted by a group of people, all govenors of the cities and corporations that had pledged their allegiance to the Alliance. This would become quite an ordeal.

Tiara tried to stay calm as she entered the command center. This was a complete swap from this morning. She was now surrounded with people who had the opposite idea of here. This time though she didn't have four droids to give her back up. Hopefully Cole wouldn't throw here to the fishes. A small wave of silence took over as more and more people took notice of her. She kept her back straight and eyes devoid of the nervousness she felt. The tension grew until she felt she had to say something.

"Hello, I am here to help with the war effort." She said keeping the skittishness out of her voice.

One of the people in a suit that wasn't looking at her like she was a contagious disease welcomed her to the base. Of course, as with any people that are welcomed to the base of their opposition, she had to be checked out, in case of spyware such as microphones or camera's. She was given basic clothes to get dressed in while her own attire was being double checked. After she returned the clearly heated discussion they were having died down again. Cole was nowhere to be found either, so his reliability just sank into the ground next to where her credibility was for most of this council. The same man as before spoke to her again.

"You'll forgive us if we're not exactly forthcoming with our operations. We weren't expecting anyone from the Republic to come here, least of all their face of the military. It's all very suspicious when each and every one of us has been branded a traitor that at the same time someone of your stature comes along."

Tiara couldn't exactly say pleasantries here. 'Sorry I had you all posted as traitors' wasn't going to anyone any good, especially her. Still she had an entire room of men who basically hated her and what she had stood for. If she didn't defuse this she was guaranteed a ride back to her prison in the capital... if they allowed her to return that is. Pushing down those negative thought she spoke.

"I understand that I am not the most trusted or welcome person." A few grunts of agreement could be heard but she soldiered on. "However I want to do what I can for the people of the Human world. I am not asking to be treat like a princess or even as governor's daughter. I am here to be a soldier and help bring peace. I understand it may take awhile you for to trust me as I am...naive when it comes to military operation. I can only ask to give me the benefit of the doubt and not pass me off as someone who only thinks of the Republic."

A couple of the people looked at each other and whispered a couple things to each other. After some debate between the leaders, they finally came to an agreement as to what to do with the girl.

"We'll allow you to show your worth. Since you have no actual military experience, you'll not be thrown as cannon fodder in the front rows of a droid battalion, we're not like that. You'll be assigned to a special ops delta team we have. You might know them, as they come directly from the Republic Army. They disagreed with the Senate's decision as well and jumped at the change to help, thus came here. They'll read you in on your tasks."

The men and women that made the Alliance leadership all nodded, some less amused than others. It was their final word. After being escorted out of the command center, she was brought to the living quarters, and in particular a mobile barracks construction at the size of 3 shipping containers. She was let in and then was instantly abandoned by her escort. Inside, she looked straight at the wannabe living room, only holding a couch, a flatscreen tv and a table in the center with 2 chairs on the open sides. Total set up could seat 5 max. Behind that was a door, and there was one at her left, which opened as a girl came out.

"We heard about you, couldn't believe it at first, and it's you, it actually, is, you. You don't mind if I get your autograph, right? Like, I've wanted it, all this time. Everyone else thinks it's silly, but I want to. Oh and maybe a picture. Or even better, we make a picture and then you sign it."

Tiara immediately held up her hands trying to have the girl calm down for just a moment. She was used to many a rabid fan, especially boys, but she hadn't expected to be popular here at the war front.More so at the Alliance's home base.

"Sorry could you calm down for just a second?" Tiara asked gently. "I am new here and I am trying to get used to the area." She explained. "It seems like you already know who i am can you tell me you name?"

From the same exit someone else came, a guy, thin and sleek, taller than the both of them and almost too tall for the barracks. He had a blue suit and what seemed to be a sniper rifle on his back, just as slick as he was. From his head, a single horn grew out to his right, blue like his attire, half covered by his long white hair. The girl on the other hand had a semi revealing attire, white with black lining, and a bowribbon that matched her apparent cat-like ears. She was about the same height as Tiara, but seemed younger.

As Tiara and the Delta team got to know each other, outside the preparations were made for the 2nd Legion to be deployed to the Angel World. With their own access gate to get to the Angel World, they were able to commit their own entire forces to the fight without having to be reliant on the Republic's Gateways. It made things a lot easier and gave them more leeway to split up from the Republic, as they no longer were bound by them.

As the droids were being massively stored in the large MTT's, remaining battalions were marching up and down the outpost, numbers that made the Republic Army look like nothing. Thousands were ready, with thousands more on the production line. The sheer amount of the Alliance troops was staggering. The only saddening defect in them was that they weren't as skilled or useful as human soldiers. While the soldiers of the Republic Army weren't always reliable, they showed initiative, managed to assess situations and were able to improvise. These droid forces, though far higher in numbers, followed their basic programming. Alter the programming and they would follow that. Though what some see as a weakness, others consider a strength. Droid do not realize fear. Since they do not have a self awareness, they do not know the term fear, or pain. They have a mission and will go on until they shut down to complete it, unless ordered otherwise. Thus making use of fearless droids was good for pushing, advancing, but also made them very vulnerable to ambushes or such strikes.

Vulture droids were flying patrols around the area, making sure there wouldn't be any Republic interference, while the base was put on a general alert, also to inform all manpower that the 2nd Legion would soon move out, and that it was essential they get their things ready for the trip.

"Nice to meet both of you." Tiara gave them each a small nod. "I was recruited last minute but I know my way around a fight." She touched the sword on her side for emphasis. "I know I may be a bit inexperienced but I will be sure to follow your lead. Please teach me the ropes." Before she could continue the general alert was sounded. Even in her inexperience she knew that was the call to prepare to move out. She swallowed down her nervousness. It was just like Cole said. Once you were on the front lines, the feeling to fight died quick quickly.

The team went outside, looking at the massive movement of material and units that occurred before them. Next to them a couple red marked Battle Droids were standing ready to escort them. While they had a very effective transportation system in place to quickly move out and deploy their troops, there wasn't much comfortable transportation available for the humans or otherwise non-droids. They had to make do with getting seated into a freight shuttle. While the team, Tiara now part of them, was strapping themselves in, about half a dozen security droids stood ready at the hatch of the shuttle, blaster rifles in their hands in case something were to happen and they would have to step in. Aside from Lucien and Asura, there were two others now. A girl with a somewhat cowboy-esque look to her, seemingly human, and someone that could not be identified by either sex or race, due to being covered in thick armored plating from top to bottom. It looked comfortable, despite its bulky design. Lucien bent over towards Tiara, introducing the rest to her.

"Our lil' vagabond here is Rose, she's our loose gun and, heads up, not a people's person. The tank is Chung, reliable, silent but you do not wanna piss him off. We're the only Delta team in service of the Alliance. Callsign Hawkshot."

Tiara thanked Lucien for the introductions and waited patiently as the shuttles rose and took off towards the portal. Finally their turn came and the Tiara was shaken in her seat by the rough takeoff. This certainly wasn't like the shuttle she had flow in on. She took a look outside the window as watch as the Alliance army grew smaller as smaller as they rose into the air. She took another glance around the room at her companions.

Asura looked like rainbows and sunshine, as if this was not only a daily occurrence but the most exciting part. Lucian sat calmly in his chair, eyes closed. Tiara has no idea what was happening in his head. As her gaze landed on Rose, their eyes met. The instant was shattered as Rose looked away from her and scowled. The last member Chung was impossible to read as he was encased in his armor. Her small analysis done, Tiara looked out the window where the portal drew ever closer. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself for what was to come.